The Diamondbacks have requested a 72-hour window to negotiate with Johnson and that could be granted today according to several people close to the situation. The team wants to structure a deal for Johnson in 2008 and restructure $40 million in deferred payments Johnson is owed from his previous stay with the team.

Johnson should be agreeable to some kind of deal given his desire to play close to his home in Paradise Valley. The Unit lives only 14 miles from Chase Field.

The secondary issue at this point seems to be how much money the Yankees will send to Arizona along with the big lefty what prospects they would get in return. The GMs have discussed a variety of scenarios and should be able to find common ground. The Yankees seem most interested in Micah Owings and Ross Ohlendorf.